Improvement in nut-locks



NITED STATES WILLIAM M. sPAeHT,

OF DUNKIRK, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN NUT-LOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 147,187, dated February 3, 1874; application filed December 6, 1873.

To all whom it may concern: j

Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. SPAGHT, of Dunkirk, in the county of Hardin and State of Ohio, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Bolt-Locks; and Ido hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings making a part of this specication, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of a side view of mybolt-lock. Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the same. Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional, and Figs. 5 and 6 detail, views of the same.

This invention has relation to means for locking bolts which are used for railroad-rail-joint splices. It consists in the use of a wedgeshaped locking bar, in combination with double-headed bolts and rail-joint splices having oblong holes through them, for receiving the said bolts, as will be hereinafter explained.

The following is a description of my improvements:

In the annexed drawings, A A represent the ends of two rail-sections of the reversible kind, and B B represent two splicing-plates, which are applied to the sides of the rail-sections, across the joint thereof. The splicingplate B presents parallel sides, but the splicing-plate B is tapered longitudinally, for a purpose hereinafter explained. C C represent double-headed bolts, which are used to conline the splice-plates to the rail. Each bolt O is constructed with a circular head, c, a square portion, c2, next this head, and an elliptical head, c1, the inner surfaces of which are beveled, as shown in Fig. 5. The plates B B have oblong holes 11,11 through them, and the neck of the rail also has oblong holes c (o through it. v'Ihese holes allow the elliptical bolt-heads c1 to pass through them. I sometimes make the holes b, which are through the tapered splice-plate B', longer than the holes through the splice-plate B, for the purpose of allowing this plate B to be tightened from time to time by driving it endwise. D represents a locking-wedge, which is constructed With an extension, D', and two notches, d d, which latter are intended to receive the rounded stems of the bolts O when the plate D is in its place, as shown in the drawings. The notches el d are made in the opposite edges of the piece D, at which points this piece is beveled, so as to present transverse wedges that are conned between the beveled surfaces c'hf of the elliptical heads c1 and the plate B, as shown in the drawings.

When the wedge-piece D is forced into its place, it may be secured by means of a spike driven into a cross-tie, so that the head ofthe spike will hook over the extension D of said piece; or, instead of a spike, a bolt or a clasp may be employed for the same purpose. After the piece D has been adjusted in its place, as described, the plates B B' are forcibly drawn to the sides of the rail-sections by driving up the wedge-shaped splice-plate B.

Should the inner surfaces c3 of the bolt-heads c1 be considerably worn, and the space between the heads be elongated thereby, washers g may be applied between the heads c and the plates B.

It will be seen from the above description that the locking wedge or key D and doubleheaded bolts will rigidly confine the plates B B to the railsections, and that the wedgeshaped splice-plateB, with its long bolt-holes, allows the joint to be tightened at pleasure.

Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The locking-piece D, notched and beveled, as described, in combination with double-head bolts C and splicing plates, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

VILLIAM M. SPACHT.

Witnesses WILLIAM I. GOWEB, DAvED JARELL. 

